Pediatricians now recommend introducing peanut-based foods to infants before their first birthday to prevent peanut allergies, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“The big news is to introduce peanuts early,” said Dr. Frank Greer, co-author of the study, which summarizes the latest research on food allergies and provides guidance to pediatricians.

Greer acknowledged that the current recommendation is a shift from earlier guidance that parents “shouldn’t introduce any allergic foods to infants before 12 months, and some even said before 2 years.”

Greer said introducing these foods to infants before they turn 1 can help the baby’s body develop a tolerance to them.

“Introduce the foods before 12 months, for sure,” he said. “Everybody agrees on that. The average age of introduction (in the studies) was 7 months, but was done as early as 4 months.”

An initial report on the topic was published around 2008, Greer explained, and since that time, new evidence required a revision.

Some parents may be skeptical of this news. But Greer says, “What was advised a couple years ago wasn’t based on scientific information, but expert opinion.”